Ignition tester



April l0, 1928.

W. J. SLIFER IGNITION TESTER Filed April 8, 1925 w R. u o 's E w B 3 F m U. L l. 7 Y m a l n m e d E 5 a N N o e 4 m m m T e m w M 4 A. u B .llk E nu S l s o N W D 4 l I4 f. un GEIL .I -|2J ww S a E m N S .GIU. v m 7 2 5 m E 2 u 2 G 5 s I. my F I FIG .5.

yPatented Apr. 10, 1928.

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WILMERJENNNGS S'LIFER, ornnsfroiv, PENNSYLVANIA.

IeN'rTIoN f'rns'rn'n:

Application meaaprnpa, 1925.= serial No. 21,519.

The present invention relates to appliances for testing the ignition systems of internal p combustion engines, such as used in automobiles, andaims to provide a device for testing or ascertaining the condition of the 1gnition coil and condenser of the ignition 1 system of modern internal. combustionpovver plants used in automobilesy (such system using the` customary non-vibrating coil)` l'vvithout removing or disconnecting any part Y of the ignition equipment, regardless of how the'system'is arranged. y

Another object of the inventionthe provision of such a'testing device compris the breaker :and for connecting a condenser .across the breaker at will', to test the condition of thetignition coil and condenser vofthe ignition system; n

A further object is the provision of novel means, which can be readily `handled or manipulated, for either bridging the breaker or-connecting a test condenser across such jbreaker.

Itis also an objectof'the invention to provide such a devicewhich is simple in construction andv operation, and Which can be used in\ the samefmanner with allnon-vibrating coil battery ignition systems regardlessl of tliemafnner-in Whichlthe various units are connected, so that the present device makes it'V unnecessaryfor'the user to remem' ber f more than one -Wayof conducting 'the tests... With the foregoing andother objects in vievv,which -Will be apparent `as the descripeo Ition-proceeds, the invention resides inthe f construction and varrangement of parts, as

hereinafter described and clainfiedity being understood that changes canbe` made Within the-scope of what is claimed, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.y

vThe invention isillustratedf'intlie accom? panying drawing, wherein-- Figure'l is a perspective vievv ofthe spark gap unit, showing the bridgingeunit and iginit-ion system in diagram. ,l p

Fig-2 isalside elevationk of the bridging unit,A o I l v n vFigs lis Aan enlarged section, onthe. line ofFig. 2, of the prod ortermlinal" I ber ofthe bridging unit which contains-the v testingY condenser and contacts.

lFig. 4 is anv enlarged section, on theline 4,-4 ofFig. 2, of the other prod lorterminal member of the bridging unit. y

[One prod or terminal memberk of' the bridging unit, as'sliovvn in detail in Fig; 3, includes a tubular case .7 ofvhard rubber or` otherinsulatingmaterial, which provides a handle to be conveniently'held in the hand 'l and manipulated. A' metal bushing 8y isl fitted 'in the open end ofthe case 7, andV has a recess 9 in its open endin vvhichthei-pint: ed prodtip'or plunger4 10 is slidable, said plunger having a shank 11 slidablefthrough a partition 12 of the bushingv 8 locatedfbetvveen the recess 9 and anotlierrecesslf in vthe ,inner end lportion, of said bushing'. h The plunger 10 is yieldingly projected byfmeans of'a coiled spring 15 disposed Within4 the recess 9 around the shank l1 and confined between the plunger 10 and partition 12, and

the outvvardmovenient of said plunger is limited'bymeansof the nutsf14 on the shank 11 which bearagainst thezpartitionlQ at that' sideopposite to the spring 15. The nuts or stops 14 are located Within the recess 13.

A contact'meansis providedin the recess 13, and, for'thispurpose, ay plug ordisk 16 of fibre or other insulating material is l.fitted inthe mouthof the recess 13, and a: contact vscrevv 17 is threaded through Vsaid plug and projects into the recessl; The shank 1l has a contact finger 17 projecting beyond the nuts 15 toengage thecontactl screvvr 17 when the case'7 'and plunger 10" are iioved toward one another. A nutlSis threaded on the'` screw 17 to serve as' a Ylocky nut'for holding' said screw` in kplace andfto provide means forfthe vconnect-ion y.of the Wires, asv

will presently l appear.`r Y.

An insulated Wire or conductor .`19 `en`ters .thel case 7:'from the end ofthe case opposite to the Iplunger. y10,l and ythe .corresponding end off'said Wire is k connected to thecontact s'creiv 17'by"means of the nutflS'. A j.

.The case-7 contains therein -aftesting eondenser 20" which cari` be conveniently "f sublstitutedfortlie regular condenser of the igniwtion systemunder test. One terminal ofthe condenser Q0 is connected by a Wire or'conpvv'lire. 21 beiniq held by. the nut 18.` The other i terminal Yof the'co'ndensery is connected` by a .a switch "is .provided @emanating-ith@ y against` the contact 24.

The other prod or terminal member of the bridging unit includes a `tubular handle 29 handle.

of hard rubberor other insulating material" and a prod point or tip 30 at one end ot said handle having a shank 31 fitted in the The wire 19 enters the handle 29 and is secured to the shank 3l.

The spark gap unit includes a metal block or `base 32'lto be seated on the cylinder head 33 of the engine or othermetal part, so as to" be grounded,gand a plate 34 of insulating material is secured on the block 32 and supports a pair of posts 35,` one oi which is con-,

Vnectedelectrically with the block 32.` A wire 36 is connected to the other post 35 and has `the breaker termina-ls 42, and the spark i gap unit being connected between the high a clip 37 `at the free `terminal thereof to engage the high tension terminal 33 ot the ignition coil. Electrodes 39 are slidable through the posts so as tof be adjusted toward and away from one another to provide aspark gap of the desired length, and nuts 40 are threaded on the posts 35 to clamp theelectrodes 39 in their adjusted position.`

When using the device, the contact or` y 'y cuit is complete and in good condition, as` .proven by the amount of discharge indicated timer elements of the breaker or timer yot the ignition system are/moved to open position,`

or a sheet or plate ot insulation is disposed between them, so as to open the regular igni-` tioncircuit. The clip37 ot the spark gap p unit is connected to the high tension ter-l minal 38 ot the ignitioncoiland the block or. base 32 is placed on a metal or grounded partot the engine. The length of the spark gap lbetween the electrodes 39 is then adjusted by properly positioning the elec` trodes. The ignition switch 43is then closed to connect the battery 41 in circuit with the primary windingtt` of the ignition coil and tension terminal38 of the ignition coil and ground will take the place of the spark plugs in circuit wit-h the secondary winding 45 of the ignition coil.` The `prodA tips or points "are then engaged with the contact or breaky er members or lelementst2, and the bridging unit then takes the `place of the; Aregular breaker, one prod containing a'manually operated breaker to close'and interruptv the primary circuit of `the ignition'coil. Thus, by pressing down on the case or handle 7,

,i with the prod plunger'or tipl() bearingon 4the respective breaker member 42, the spring "17,'to open the primary circuit. should tlienjump the gap bctweenthe elecl5 is compressed, and the contact screw 17 is brought into engagement with the contact finger 17, thereby Vconnecting the wire or conductor 19 with the plunger 10, and closiiigtlie primary circuit `ot the ignition coil through the bridging unit. is left open, and now, by releasing pressure on the handle or `case 7, the spring 15 will separate the handle or case 7 and plunger l0, thereby separating the contacts 17 and trodes 39, the same as when jumping the occur if the ignition system is in goodcondition.` It, however, no spark is obtained,

y this is an indication that the ignition system is defective. The procedure above described is then repeated, with the switch 125 held gage one another, and'whenfsaid contacts are separated the charge of the condenser A sp ark The Switch 25 i gap `ot a spark plug, and such sparking will is discharged across the spark gapbetween the electrodes 39. Shoulda spark occur when making the test with the condenser switch 25 closed, this will indicate that the condenser of the ignition system is defective. It no spark is obtained or'one of required length `is not obtained, with the switch 25 closed, the ignition coil or both the coil andcondenser oit theignition systemv may be detective, providing the primary cirby the animeter (not shown) or the presence ot current aty the breakercontact' members This tester may be used byinost inexpelriencedmechanics and` will quickly indicate which is the usual method of locatingtaults "in the 'general mechanism of automobiles.

The testis also made without removing any units from the ignition system or` without disconnecting any partthereof. The test is always lmade in the same mannenso that it is unnecessary to remember morethan one way of testing. y

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as newis:-` Y i i 1.*An ignition tester comprising a bridging unit for the breaker ofanignitionvisystem having two `terminal prods tobeinde-` pendently manipulated by hand and a flex-k ible connection betweensaidprods, one prod comprising a handle, a testing condenser in said handle, means associated with said handle forconnecting the condenser in circuit"` with the prode, and means associated with said handle for connecting the prods lin aY circuit without including said condenser.

2. An ignition tester comprising a bridging unit for the breaker of an ignition system having terminal prods to engage members of said breaker and a flexible connection between said prods, said prods ,being adapted to be manipulated by hand, one prod comprising a handle, a testing condenser in said handle, and two circuit closers assembled with said handle, one circuit closer being connected in series with the condenser and prods and the other circuit closer being connected in series with said prods and bridging said condenser.

3. An ignition tester comprising abridg- Ling unit for the breaker of an ignition system and having two terminal prods to be independently manipulated by hand and a flexible connection between said prods, one prod including a handle, a testing con denser in said handle, and means associated with said handle for connecting said condenser in circuit with said prods and con-l trolling the flow of current. n

4. An ignition tester comprising a bridging unit for the breaker o an ignition system and having a terminal prod, said prod including a handle and a spring projected plunger to contact with one member of the breaker, means for closing the primary ignition of said system by pressure on the handle to move the handle toward said plunger, a condenser within thehandle, and means carried by the handle for connecting the condenser in circuit with the bridging unit independently ofthe lirstnarned means.

5. An ignition tester comprising a bridging unit for the breaker of an ignition system and having a terminal prod, said prod includin a handle, a testing condenser in said han le, and two independently operable circuit closers assembled with said handle, one circuit closer being connected in series withv the condenser and bridging unit andthe otherl circuit closer being connected in series with the bridging unit and'bridging y said condenser.

6. An ignition tester comprising a bridging unit for the breaker of an ignition sys# tem, having. a terminal prod, saidprodincluding ya handle, a spring projected plung-k `er to engage one of the breaker members,

normally separated contacts carried by the plunger and handle to be disposed in the primary ignition circuit of said system for clos` ing said circuit when the handle and plunger are moved toward one another,a condenser within the handle, and means for connecting said condenser across said contacts.

7. An ignition tester comprising a bridging unit for the breaker offan ignition sys-A tem, having a terminal prod,said. prod including a handle, a bushing in one end of the handle, a plunger slidable in the bushing denser across said contacts.

WILMER JENNINGS SLIFER. 

